Hippo-suction: From Lake Edward in war-torn central Africa comes another example of the complexity of nature. The lake was once a rich and reasonably well-managed source of fish for the region, but now fishing nets are coming up empty. Reasons include unlicensed boats, fishing in the normally off-limits spawning areas, and a lack of hippo dung. In recent years, militia members have been slaughtering hippos for their tusks and meat, causing populations to decline from 29,000 in the 1970s to just a few hundred today. But it turns out that hippo dung feeds plankton, which feeds fish larvae, which turn into fish. (The Atlantic)